Exploring Architecture of Xyloglucan Cellulose Nanocrystal Complexes through Enzyme Susceptibility at Different Adsorption Regimes

Xyloglucan (XG) is believed to act as a cementing material that contributes to the cross-linking and mechanical properties of the cellulose framework in plant cell walls. XG can adsorb to the cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) surface in vitro in order to simulate this in vivo relationship. The target of our work was to investigate the sorption behavior of tamarind seed XG on CNC extracted from cotton linters at different XG/CNC concentration ratios, that is, different adsorption regimes regarding the XG–CNC complex organization and the enzymatic susceptibility of XG. First, we determined the adsorption isotherm. Second, XG–CNC complexes were enzymatically hydrolyzed using a xyloglucan-specific endoglucanase in order to quantify the different XG fractions involved in binding to CNC and to determine adsorption regimes, that is, presence of loops, tails, and trains. Finally, the architecture of the XG–CNC complex was investigated by transmission electron microscopy imaging of negatively stained XG–CNC suspensions and XG immunolabeled suspensions at different XG/CNC concentration ratios, both before and after xyloglucanase hydrolysis process. This study revealed that an increasing XG/CNC concentration ratio led to a change in the XG binding organization to CNC. At low XG/CNC concentration ratios, almost all XG chains were bound as trains to the CNC surface. In contrast, at increasing XG/CNC concentration ratios, the proportion of loops and tails increases. The organization change induces CNC aggregation to form a cellulose/XG network at low XG/CNC regimes, whereas CNC remains in the form of individual particles at higher XG/CNC regimes. Results are discussed both regarding the biological role of XG in plant cell walls and in the perspective of designing new biobased materials